Others Summon Dragons, I Summon Legendary Knights Chapter 404 The Ruination Is Here

"Still working, huh?" A man in his sixties chuckled as he walked over to the girl underneath a huge truck.

Lucy rolled out and sat up. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with her forearm, then exhaled as she dropped the spanner.

"Everyone that has tried fixing her has failed." The man folded his muscular arms as he gazed down, meeting her gaze.

"I know that. I also know it can be fixed. I mean, look at this thing." Lucy slammed the truck's steel frame. This truck had several tires and a huge tortoise shell on its back.

It was a monster made from dungeon materials and the brilliant minds of Earth's engineers. Although it consumed a lot of cores, with the rate of dangerous terrains in dungeons, this was the perfect vehicle, especially now.

A month had passed since Saul was killed. After his death, the Cohort went through lots of transformations. Those that still believed in Saul's ideals were driven away, and Godfrey changed their name from Vagabonds to Sentinels and made a speech that they should stop seeing themselves as fugitives.

This was their own place, their world. Bearing the name fugitive meant tying themselves to the order of the outside world that refused to accept them for what they were.

Unfortunately, even after the chant of hundreds, Godfrey refused to become the Captain. But he changed the hierarchy, abolishing Elite and Regular classes.

They were now Captains. The Cohort was slowly becoming a small team of elites once more and, with Customization and Mastery, they were gaining more ground in Summoner skills.

Summons could now be built to become better. This was a form of artificial adaptation, a painful process with a rewarding end. Summons that were meant to rely on their hides and fur now had armour, boosting their Defence Factor greatly.

Lucy picked up the spanner with renewed determination. "I'm sure I can make it work."

"That engine is one of a kind. It was built from other scraps, one of a kind. It's an impossible task." The man squatted as Lucy rolled under the vehicle once more.

He shook his head, walked over to the column, and slammed a red button. There was a loud sound and steel ropes came from above, hooked the truck, and lifted it up.

Lucy blinked several times when it began to ascend.

"You have more light this way," the man said.

"I don't want more light," she replied.

"Exactly." He sighed, then looked at her with a softer gaze. "Because you're used to being in the shadows, in the dark of something bigger."

The old man's words made Lucy pause.

He went close, then stretched his hand toward her. "Stand up."

Lucy rose to her feet on her own. She wore an orange coverall but brought the top down to her waist, revealing her gray top while the sleeves of the coverall hung loosely at her side.

As usual, her hair was packed into two ponytails, and it made her face even more striking. She was the most good-looking girl not just in the workshop but in the Cohort as a whole, considering her age and the fact that she rarely wore makeup.

At a glance, a young man would think he met a badass young lady with appealing looks and personality, but looks could be deceiving.

It once took her to the arms of a Polaris top student and right into the depths of a pool, left to drown.

Watching her walk away, the man squinted. "Where are you going?"

"To meet my friends since I'm not welcome here," she replied without looking back.

"And what are you going to do there? Watch how they've grown and then hide once more?" The man's words made Lucy's stubborn look collapse as she stopped walking.

"I've seen how you've been acting ever since they all came back. The big boys, Godfrey, Percival, Isaac. You have all these boys around you, you're the closest to them amongst anyone in Paradise, yet it's obvious you're struggling to fit in."

"I didn't ask for your advice." Lucy turned to the man with a frown.

"But you need it. Your summon doesn't define you, Lucy. It's not everything you are, even if our world sees through those lenses. I don't, and it's the same for them too. You're your problem, you can't be yourself if everything about you is defined by the public's views."

"I'm myself."

"Then why do you hide your summon?" The old man tilted his head. "You could have easily summoned it to help you with this vehicle. You know, bond with it publicly, yet you act like it's a shame to you. Everyone has been using their summons this past month. We're celebrating a transformation brought by your friend. Your friend. But I've been seeing you appearing here more often when others are celebrating."

Lucy cast a glance around, seemingly ensuring they were alone in the workshop. Afterward, Lucy turned and departed.

The man massaged his forehead, pondering, 'What's wrong with her?'

As she hurried away, tears welled in her eyes. She quickly ducked into an alley to conceal herself.

Who was she to inform them that she had lost her summon while raiding a dungeon solo, especially after witnessing how Isolde, Godfrey, and Isaac had progressed? The unfortunate incident involving Snow's family had taught her a harsh lesson: even loved ones might not always be present. Yet, that particular decision had led to a regrettable outcome.

She lacked the courage to confess that her summon was deceased to the very individuals who had risked everything to help it evolve. She had sought her own path, hoping it would lead back to being reunited with her friends, but that choice had resulted in disaster.

For the past three months, she had been living a lie, altering her hair color daily and pasting on a fake smile as if nothing had occurred.

Perhaps she yearned to escape, to dwell in a self-created illusion. She was undeniably miserable and fully aware of her own suffering.

What path, indeed?

Her desire was to be with her friends and find happiness, but each attempt culminated in the longing to be like them. To simply be content—these words, spoken countless times, had never truly registered in her heart.

Lucy remained in the alley for a period before emerging. She returned to the workshop, where the old man, seated near the turtle truck and examining a spanner, turned his attention to her.

'Can I just… attempt to fix it?' This was her sole refuge, a time to pour all her concentration into a task, allowing nothing else to intrude upon her thoughts.

The man nodded gently. 'Of course. Allow me to assist you.'

'You previously stated it was beyond repair.'

'Well, I'm collaborating with one of the most brilliant mechanics in Paradise. I'm confident that with my expertise and your sharp thinking, we can get this contraption operational.' The man let out a chuckle.

As Lucy approached him, an individual materialized at the expansive entrance. 'Lucy. The Watchman requires your presence in the tower.'

She faltered, a sudden chill coursing through her.

'The Watchman. That's a distinction I've never experienced.' The man chuckled. Lucy, however, was aware of Gabriel's true nature.

***

A few minutes later, Lucy entered the tower and observed more than two dozen Sentinels diligently moving about, handling books and arranging them onto newly erected shelves.

Her apprehension began to dissipate as she approached them, retrieving a few books. She focused on her breathing, inhaling through her mouth, while placing the books onto the shelves according to the corresponding boxes she had retrieved them from.

She eventually reached the section containing older volumes. The titles inscribed on their spines immediately captured her attention.

Extending her hand toward one book, titled 'Earth's Ancient Civilization,' she was interrupted by a hushed voice beside her.

It was the type of whisper that signaled an urge to shout, suppressed into the quietest possible tone. 'Lucy.'

Lucy turned to face another Sentinel, who was glaring at her. 'The Watchman is meticulous with his books, and you are forbidden from touching them without his express permission.'

'She has my authorization.' Gabriel's voice echoed as he seemingly appeared from nowhere. Lucy and the other Sentinels were startled, their eyes widening. For the others, it was a look of awe. For Lucy, it was pure fear.

It felt as though she stood before the embodiment of the devil, perceiving the cruel reality lurking beneath his outwardly warm and handsome facade.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes as he drew nearer. 'Are you… frightened of me?'

'I am not,' she responded, forcing a smile.

Gabriel gave a slight shrug. 'Hand those over.' He addressed a Sentinel, who swiftly relinquished the books Lucy was holding.

Gabriel began placing them onto an unoccupied shelf below. 'I've come to lend a hand.' He offered a warm smile.

Lucy struggled to maintain her composure. At that precise moment, a resounding crash echoed, as if the door had been forcefully impacted.

Amidst some commotion, two young men appeared at the far end of the aisle. Godfrey and Percival, who had hurried over upon reaching the camp and learning of her presence, were confronted by an unexpected scene.

Lucy and Gabriel stood amidst the books, with Gabriel even crouching down and looking at them with a bewildered expression.

'What is transpiring?' he inquired, surveying the surroundings.

'I've spent merely one month with my mother, and it seems I've already grown complacent. What is this? Is he implying my break has been excessively long?'

Godfrey pondered.

Gabriel blinked. 'Did the two of you enter uninvited?' He chuckled, though his internal tone was composed.

'They both came for her. It appears she holds some value, but… she is not my intended quarry, Godfrey. I seek something far more significant… something capable of delivering a formidable blow and leaving a lasting scar. A deep scar. However, I cannot allow the Ruination to be neglected… so let us simply fill these shelves today.'

Percival cleared his throat and proceeded to retrieve books.

Observing Godfrey placing books onto the shelves adjacent to him, Gabriel offered a smile.